Kinship and Kindness

Paranormal Society Romances #1

by Kara Jorgensen

Bennett Reynard needs one thing: to speak to the Rougarou about starting a union for shifters in New York City before the delegation arrives. When his dirigible finally lands in Louisiana, he finds the Rougarou is gone and in his stead is his handsome son, Theo, who seems to care for everyone but himself. Hoping he can still petition the Rougarou, Bennett stays only to find he is growing dangerously close to Theo Bisclavret.

Theo Bisclavret thought he had finally come to terms with never being able to take his father’s place as the Rougarou, but with his father stuck in England and a delegation of werewolves arriving in town, Theo’s quiet life is thrown into chaos as he and his sister take over his duties. Assuming his father’s place has salted old wounds, but when a stranger arrives offering to help, Theo knows he can’t say no, even if Mr. Reynard makes him long for things he had sworn off years ago.

As rivals arrive to challenge Theo for power and destroy the life Bennett has built, they know they must face their greatest fears or risk losing all they have fought for. With secrets threatening to topple their worlds, can Theo and Bennett let down their walls before it’s too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Historical, Transgender, M M Romance

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 2020

About the author

Kara Jorgensen (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary oddball with a penchant for all things antiquated, morbid, or just plain strange. While in college, they realized they no longer wanted to be Victor Frankenstein but instead wanted to write like Mary Shelley and thus abandoned their future career in science for writing. Kara melds their passions through their books and graduated with an MFA in Creative and Professional Writing in 2016. When not writing, they can be found hanging out with their dogs watching period dramas or trying to convince their students to cite their sources.

To find out more about their books go to https://karajorgensen.com
Sign-up for their newsletter and get a free sapphic novella: eepurl.com/bfJTW9

Historical Fantasy/Steampunk Novels
The Ingenious Mechanical Devices:
The Earl of Brass (IMD #1)
The Winter Garden (IMD #2)
"An Oxford Holiday" (short story)
The Earl and the Artificer (IMD #3)
"The Errant Earl" (short story)
Dead Magic (IMD #4)
Selkie Cove (IMD #5)
The Wolf Witch (IMD #6)

The Reanimator Mysteries
The Reanimator's Heart (TRM #1)
"An Unexpected Valentine" (TRM #1.5)
The Reanimator's Soul (TRM #2)
"An Unexpected Question" (TRM #2.5)
The Reanimator's Remains (TRM #3 FORTHCOMING 2024)

A Paranormal Society Romance
Kinship and Kindness (PSR #1)
Trousers and Trouble (PSR #2) (FORTHCOMING)
Tempests and Temptation (PSR#3) (FORTHCOMING)
Untitled (PSR #4) (FORTHCOMING)

Reviews

[Jane (whatjanereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3,5-4

Rep: gay trans MC, bi/pan MC, MC with epilepsy


I love shifter books, especially werewolf books!!!
This one had a little surprise in it, with Bennett, who is actually a fox shifter, invading the werewolf meeting.
I really loved Bennett, he was so strong and ready to fight for the things he believes in.
I also liked Theo, who is so unsure of himself because of his illness, despite being the Rougarous gigantic son.
Him growing plants and baking was such a cute background story.

I also really liked the story itself, it was interesting and gripping.
And while there weren’t many sex scenes (2?), they were written in an amazing way. There was consent, there was making sure both of them had fun. No standard dominance stuff. Loved it!

What I liked best about the story wasn’t only that there were different animal shifters, but also that the animal and the human were like two personalities living inside one body and they actually communicated and fought with each other. But also comforted each other. I never read a shifter story like this!


For me personally some parts of it were a little too rushed though, especially the lovestory. It was an extreme case of instalove. After 50 pages they were already jumping each other’s bones. I normally don’t mind that much in paranormal books, but this was even too quick for me.
Also there was a lack of background information and world building to really understand everything straight away.

I think with a little more editing this could have been a really, really good book!!!
I still enjoyed reading it and I think I would also read the second book, which is a f/f romance!

[C.M. Rosens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since a bot has 1* this simply because it's LGBTQ+, before ARCs have even been sent out and there is apparently no way of reporting this or taking the review down, I've pre-emptively rated it based on my previous experiences with this author's work and I'll return to write the actual review with my rating when it's released... 1st July 2020. I hope others will give this book a fair chance. I've every confidence that Jorgensen will easily earn every one of these 5*s.

[A.E. Bross · Rating 5 out of 5]

EDIT: Adding this because I recently got to listen to the audiobook version of this and if anyone is thinking of picking it up, do it!!! The audiobook narrator brings the characters and story to an even more vivid, deeper life than I thought was possible. I binged the audiobook, too! It is so worth it.

I'm not usually a binge reader. I tend to read slowly, and take frequent breaks, either because my interest begins to wane and I need a brief distraction (especially nowadays with self-isolation and social distancing) or because little life things come up (kiddo, spouse, meals, etc.).

So can I just tell you how absolutely thankful I was that the kiddo and the spouse were occupied today, because for the past almost five hours I have been utterly and completely captivated by this book!

Kinship and Kindness takes place just after The Wolf Witch in Jorgensen's timeline of books, though it's more a spin-off, following the exploits of kin in America. However, this does not mean you have to read their other books to understand this one. Of the original Ingenious Mechanical Devices series, I've only read the first two but suffered no confusion for this novel.

Theo Bisclavret, werewolf and presumptive heir to his father's place as the Rougarou, it trying to wrestle with the want for a quiet, withdrawn life due to his personal circumstances, and being forced into a position that he is hesitant to take. He is willing to take up the mantle, if need be, to protect those he loves the most. However, his protectiveness borders occasionally on the self-destructive.

Bennett Reynard is in town for the delegation of werewolves, but he's a fox among wolves (literally). He's there to plead his case to the Rougarou, whom he hopes will then take it to the delegation: there needs to be some sort of group for the protection of shifters that aren't werewolves. His hopes to talk to the Rougarou, however, are stymied by the fact that he isn't there. Instead, Bennett meets Theo, and a relationship begins to blossom between them.

One of my favorite aspects was the juxtaposition between toxic and healthy family that Jorgensen displays in the book is a stark one, illustrating for the reader that family, true family, isn't the one that seems perfect, but the one that is flawed, but forgiving and even supportive of those very same flaws. Jorgensen illustrates another important aspect of toxic familial ties and that it is acceptable to break them. While it wasn't common, it did happen, and for very valid reasons. I was relieved that "the pack" wasn't the alpha and the omega. Too often in tales involving werewolves, defectors from packs were ostracized.

Also, it made me so happy to see solid trans rep in this writing. FAR TOO MANY people would like to pretend that transgender individuals didn't exist in the past, that it is somehow something that modern society thought up. That isn't true, and Jorgensen's attention to detail and careful research shows in every aspect of the storytelling. They even go as far as giving recommendations of books for people to educate themselves on the truth in history.

And, let me say, the level of steam in the book did NOT disappoint. Not too much, not too little, the perfect amount of MLM (and no, I do not mean multi-level marketing) steamy goodness.

Overall, I think there are a number of conclusions I can come to about Kinship and Kindness. The first is, if you enjoyed Jorgensen's other books, you will enjoy this one. The second is that it is a damn fine book. The third is that I would highly recommend it to fans of the genre and of cuddly wolves and foxes.

[R.J. Sorrento · Rating 5 out of 5]

Updated review 7/30/20: I loved this book! This is the first I’ve read of Jorgensen, and I’m beyond impressed. I could barely put the book down, and I fell for Theo and Bennett instantly.

The trans rep is done really well, and it was exciting to read about a trans man in a historical setting. I love to see that kind of representation.

This book hit all the right notes for me. Shifters? Check. Steamy scenes that balanced heat with intimacy and emotion? Check. Found family? Check.

I look forward to the next in this series which will feature Ruth (we get a sneak peek of her, and my curiosity has been piqued.)

I highly recommend this paranormal romantic historical fiction novel.

Note: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ward Maia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much because of the trans rep, the characters, the romance, the found family dynamics, and all the biscuits (there are quite a few).
This is the first book I've read by this author and I cannot say how amazing it was to read about a trans man in a historical setting and not only have it be accurate but just... be. There is no transphobia (not even from the bad guys) and that was so refreshing. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading Ben and Theo's story and I'm curious to know more about Ruth.
Heads up, possible spoilers ahead.
Bennet is a fox shifter and a trans man who travels from Brooklyn (where he works in a library for the Supernatural Society) to a small town in Louisiana because he wants to establish a union for non-wolf shifters (they're outcasts and treated very badly by wolf shifters). But when he gets there, instead of the Big Boss Wolf, he meets his son (with his own share of secrets) who has stepped up and taken charge while his father is away. They get off to kind of a rocky start - it's super cute and awkward.
After some pickle juice, a few jars of canned peaches, and a surprise visit from an evil uncle, their objectives start to intertwine and they end up having sexy-sexy times in between batches of biscuits.
I feel like I've used the word 'love' way too much in this review but I really, really love how their physical interactions are described as well as their dialogues.
There were a few typos here and there but nothing that detracts from the overall story.
Seriously, do yourself a favor and read this book because it will not disappoint. I'm definitely going to read other books by this author and keep my eye out for the sequel to this one.

Note: I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Domo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I second the Rosen review and think it's horrific that they would allow anti-LGBTQ+ bots to review without us reporting them.

[Anthony Gramuglia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is one of those very sweet, light stories that does a lot to demonstrate the representation of queer folk in a historical setting. I feel like this novel will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm a sucker for just about anything with werewolves and were-foxes in them, so this to me was something of a treat.

I will admit that I almost didn't pick up on the trans rep in this book until I reread a few lines. It's done in a masterful sort of way that just makes queerness a matter-of-fact rather than make a big, grandiose deal of it. The conflict beyond the inter-personal relationships I felt was a bit subdued at times. It's a calm, soft read. If that's what you're interested in, you will get that in spades.

This novel is good sweet dream fuel.

[Patrick Elliot · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea that a hate-based bot is going through goodreads posting one-star reviews for books that aren't even released solely on the bases of the author's LGBTQ content is deeply offensive. Goodreads has a responsibility to police this kind of dishonest and disingenuous use of their rating system. I am pre-emptively giving this book five stars based on the brilliant work of this author, and I will update this review after I have read the book, once it is released.

[A.E. Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for anyone looking for a heartfelt romance! I immediately adored Bennett Reynard, a shifter striving to create a union in his hometown of New York City. When Bennett travels down south and meets Theo Bisclavret, a fellow shifter with a penchant for stress-baking, sparks immediately fly. Jorgensen is a great storyteller and does a fantastic job weaving politics into this creative tale. Full of yearning and a bit of angst, this book had me turning page after page well into the night. Highly recommend!

[Bookshire Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I should say first that I haven't read many werewolf books. I was dragged to this book by the fox on the cover and I was pleasantly surprised by just about everything.

What I loved the most was Bennett and his fox. He is a delightful character and the contrast between his seriousness and his carefree mischievous fox was funny and adorable.

That brings me to the concept of shifters in this book, a new take for me, which I find intriguing. In the few werewolf books I have read, the person simply shifts from one to the other and as a human, they just feel the instincts of the wolf, whereas as a wolf, they cannot be much controlled by the human part. Here, the two identities coexist in one head and they can be pushed back or brought forward for the benefit of both - or not. This provides an opportunity for various interesting situations, like Bennett's fox wreaking havoc to his plans for the sake of biscuits and cuddles <3

Another thing I liked was that through the problems of werewolf world, serious real issues were tackled. So you have discussions of privilege, racism, disability, issues and oppression trans people are facing, the importance of (found) family and friendship and more.

The tropes due to which I usually avoid this subgenre (packs and hierarchy) are here too but they are not an end in itself - instead, they are nicely integrated in the story and as I said above, they are used to point out other issues.

The romance was not rushed, it felt natural and the issues Bennett and Theo were dealing with were organic and believable (in short, nobody behaves like an idiot here).

Secondary characters are well fleshed even if they got a small space. i very much liked Aunt Mae, Charlie and especially Ruth.

Ah and you get a stress-baking werewolf, what not to love about that? :)

[D.N. Bryn]

This is a sweet, cozy Achillean shifter romance with an couple mild sex scenes and a lovely social justice plotline around getting unrecognized shifters rights. If you like soft but emotionally-packed romances and low-violence fights for minority rights, I would definitely recommend this! (Also if you're looking for more disability representation! 😉 )

[Snail-Paced Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a soft and cozy shifter romance with a disability rep that centers around getting unrecognized shifters more rights.

I'll admit it took me like halfway through the book to fully understand the dynamic that shifters have in this world, and I'm still not entirely sure what percentage of the non-shifter population understands that shifters (and how many different types of shifters) are real vs myths, but since the story takes place almost entirely on the property of a wolf shifter where everyone would already know everything it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. I really loved how shifting was treated here, with animal forms being their own unique personality and consciousness that hangs out in the shifter's minds and takes over the body when they shift. It's really cute to see the main characters interact with their animal consciousness, and while I haven't read a ton of shifter books I think this is pretty unique from what I have read.

The romance is sweet and cute, with little a domestic flair as they spend some time in the beginning just working together around the house. It moved faster than I personally like, but the couple have good chemistry and get along well. I would love to have seen their animal forms get to snuggle, but I'll just have to imagine that cuteness for myself I guess ;_; There's a moment near the end where the conflict between them didn't feel as solidly built up to as I would have liked, but they work through it quickly.

A love a good combating bigotry without violence plotline and the story had a nice undercurrent of that with a solid resolution, but there was an action scene in the second half that made me expect the antagonist to be more thoroughly beaten, or at least have some kind of physical conflict that gets resolved in the end, so I was caught off guard by the book just ending without it. It looks like the series continues though so maybe he'll continue to be the main antagonist and we'll get more resolution down the line?

Other all, a cute book with some heavy emotions that's perfect for a lazy afternoon.

[avis03 · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM, PNR, 1890s, 3rd Dual POV

Status: Non-KU, Series of Interconnected Standalones, Third Act Conflict - External, Internal, Reproduction - No

Theo: Wolf Shifter, Epileptic, Pan, 26 Yrs Old, Son of the Rougarou (Wolf Shifter Leader), Gardner, Bakes, Grows Food for the Less Fortunate

Bennet: Trans, Fox Shifter, 30 Yrs Old, Librarian for the NY Paranormal Society, On a Mission to Form a Union for Non-Wolf Shifters, Red Hair, Freckles, Wears a Binder

Rep: Epilepsy, Trans MC, Trans Affirming During Sexual Encounters

Notes: 1890s Lousiana, Forced Proximity, City Boy x Country Boy, Found Family, Shifter Political Intrigue, Social Justice Advocacy; Discussions of Privilege, Racism, Disability and Oppression of Trans People

Sex Notes: Making Out, Explicit Consent, Oral Sex, Wet Grinding, Fingering, Handjob, Blowjob, Swallowing, Penetrative Sex

CWs: Abelism (External and Internalized), Foreshortened Future/PTSD, Epileptic Seizures, Past Child Abuse, Past Death of a Lover, Violence, Gender Dysphoria, Misogyny

The only weak points are headhopping during chapters and the external conflict wrapping up a bit too quickly and smoothly.

[Kara Jorgensen]

CWs: sexual content, violence, ableism (including internalized), foreshortened future/PTSD, epileptic seizures, remembered child abuse, remembered death of a lover

[Briar Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance novels are not really my preferred genre, but this was fun! The sex scenes were well-done, both in terms of being hot and in terms of how Jorgensen approached the body & gender dysphoria of her trans man character Bennett. The characterization of the two leads was well-balanced; they both came across as attractive, interesting people, and I was rooting for their relationship. I enjoyed some of the fantasy elements here, particularly the concept that shapeshifters' animal selves are something akin to a headmate or an alternate personality that takes over when they're transformed (with the human personality remaining conscious but not always in control of their animal's actions).

There were fairly frequent typos in my e-book edition (think "to" for "too", "Cyprus trees" for "cypress trees", that sort of thing) , but that's par for the course with this sort of thing and there was nothing that interfered with my understanding of the story.

The werewolf political intrigue plot ended in a very abrupt and anticlimactic fashion, with a lot of extremely exciting things apparently having occurred entirely off-page. I also felt that the antagonists should have been drawn a bit less one-dimensionally. However, these complaints, and most others that I have about the story, are clearly just the result of the fact that this is a romance novel*, not a dark thriller or a literary family epic or, well, any other genre I'm more compelled by. If you want to read a sweet, wholesome, happily-ever-after gay romance set in a vaguely steampunk alternate 1890s Louisiana, wherein one partner is a hunky, aristocratic, epileptic werewolf with angst and the other is a trans fox-shifter from Brooklyn who's trying to start a shapeshifters' union, this is definitely for you.

----


*I definitely don't mean this derisively; the conventions are just literally different! In another type of novel, Bennett and Theo's romance would be a backdrop to all the other stuff that's going on; in this novel, by design, everything else that happens is a backdrop to their developing romance. The love story is the arc that the author and audience care most about.

[Beaumont · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited at first and thought: Historical fiction with NO QUEERPHOBIA??? This is my white whale, my unicorn, the thing I am always seeking!!! However, this was incorrect. It was less queerphobia, people able to talk about male impersonators and queer couples in public with only slight implications that some people may not like queer couples being together, but like those people aren’t important. Bennet brings up a history of men being verbally or physically violent against him because he’s trans and they were expecting a cis man. The world doesn’t try to pretend queerness doesn’t exist, and there are plenty queer characters, but there’s still queerphobia. Also misogyny (Theo’s sister could be the leader but won’t because of how awful everyone would be because of her being a woman). It’s closer than most books, but it’s not my unicorn.

That being said, the relatively open queerness is very lovely in a historical shifter context. Some drama is about queerness and disabilities, which isn’t my personal favorite (though the book uses this to show supportive and kind reactions to these things in the face of reasonable fear that others will be awful). Other drama is from fantasy bigotry (fox and other “prey” shifters are seen as weak and useless and are not treated well).

Theo is 26 and Bennet is 30. The two main guys are into each other right off the bat, but honestly I often love this in a book if it’s done right. If the chemistry is written well that instant attraction is so fun to read! But then again if the chemistry is off I guess it doesn’t matter how fast or slow it develops. That was not an issue in this book!

There is sex in this book, and it’s descriptive but not super explicit, which fits with the softer overall feel of the book. It’s rare that books have a trans MC in a romance let alone actually “show” them having sex. It was great to actually have “on screen” sex between the two main guys!

The only negatives:
I’m baffled by the sound in the audiobook that heralds the start of a new chapter for the first part of the book. I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to be.
The internal POV alternates within the same section of book sometimes it’s confusing.

[Noura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely, astoundingly, amazing, and so so so so heartfelt. I melted into this book and finished it in less than three days, which is not unusual for me when I LOVE something I'm absorbed in. The world around Theo and Bennett was so well thought out and described I swore I could see/smell certain descriptions, I am just in love. Bennett is such a little DIVA and I love him and want to throttle him and Theo all in the same instance. They both deserve big hugs. My by far favorite character, and yet the one you interact with the least, is Pa. If I could run into this world and give that man a big ole hug I would. Kara is such a wonderful writer and she truly brought this work to life. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Highly recommend, may lend to my sister if I didn't fear she would steal it. 5/5 stars!!!!

[S.C. Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book delivered yesterday (28/11/20) and read it in 3 and a half hours. It was that good.

I rarely give five stars, but thought this book was worth it.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Bennet and Theo. The way it progressed and the first flush of romance, mingled with apprehension and past trauma really added depth to both their characters.

I do hope there is another book in this series with the same characters and with Ruth, who from the brief glimpse at the end of the book is quite an intriguing character.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about interesting and diverse characters.

[Nathaniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got a audioarc ages ago and i hated it so much i didn’t leave a review. But i have to speak my truth. This is the worst book I have ever read and god the author sure is white. Like im also white but jesus this book tries so hard to be woke but it just keeps being offensive to every. Single. Minority. Do not read this book is Literally not worth your time.

[Dez Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sexy and adorable book! Warning: It will make you hungry. :)

[Marta]

The politics were interesting, but nothing else grabbed me. The romance was too insta love for my taste.

[S.B. (Beauty in Ruins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

his was just delightful, both sweeter and darker than I expected, with some wonderful themes of understanding and acceptance throughout. Kinship and Kindness is a story of pack and of family, a story about transformations, and a story of making one’s own destiny, all set in a historical setting.

One of the first things that struck me about the story was Kara Jorgensen’s flair for detail. This is a book you can hear, smell, and feel on every page. It’s fully immersive, but in a way that’s never intrusive or overwhelming. I mean, read this and tell me you’re not right there, on that street, covering your nose:

Even in winter, the city still tasted of coal dust and bodies, a thousand dishes cooking on one stove overlaid with sweat and urine.

The second thing that struck me was the way she handled Bennett’s hidden gender situation, and the way Theo responded to it. Theirs is a slow burn romance, complicated by Bennet being a transgender fox amidst a pack of wolves, and Theo being a fatalistic epileptic who won’t allow anyone to get close, but it’s well worth waiting for those magical moments when they connect. These two quotes are taken from different parts of the book, several chapters apart, but they speak volumes about the body dynamic of their romance:

“My body and mind don’t quite match. I’m missing some things and have too much of others. My mind and body don’t see eye to eye.” [Bennet]

“I don’t only like men, and I’m fussy about who I do things with, not what types of activities I entertain with others. Bodies will always be different, some more than others, so that’s very low on my list of concerns.” [Theo]

Woven within all that is the overall theme of family born, family lost, and family found, which is made even more interesting and dynamic with the whole shifter/pack element. There’s a sort of racial element to that dynamic as well, with species playing into the role of family in a couple of ways. There’s the whole element of Bennet being a fox among wolves, and then there’s the passion that brings him to town, a proposal to start a union for all shifters, allowing foxes, selkies, and more to enjoy the same protections and privileges of wolves. There’s a lot of tension there, a lot of challenges to pack and family, and the way they come together against a common enemy is fantastic.

Finally, I must say I loved the way Jorgensen explored shifters here, with the animal and the human sort of coexisting, challenging for dominance, and remaining aware of one another. Watching the wolves tear through the house and across the grounds is exhilarating, and watching the battles between them is bloody horrifying, but watching Bennet’s fox scampering about and begging for pastries from Theo is just adorable.


https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2020/...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
I really liked this one. It was charming, cozy, but also a little dark at times. A stress-baking werewolf shifter who was running a werewolf delegation for most of the book (Theo) was quite the treat. Bennett was a great main character (MC) as well - brave, sweet, and shifts to a cute but wily fox to boot. Both MCs were dealing with the fact that they felt like outsiders: Theo has a history of seizures and has some internalized ableism and fear that he will die young, which leads him to push people away. Bennett left his pack after it was discovered he was a fox shifter and not a wolf like everyone else, which makes him hesitant to trust wolves at first but also leads him to advocate for the formation of a union for shifters that aren’t wolves. Some great queer representation here as Theo is a bisexual MC and Bennett is a trans MC. As the title suggests, these two help each other through kinship, kindness, and a lot of love.

My only small quibble was that there is a lot of head hopping that had me going back to make sure I knew whose POV we were in. Other than that, this is a tender romance with a plot that makes you think. I’d love to see more of the shifter unions as the series unfolds!

CWs from the author’s website: sexual content, violence, ableism (including internalized), foreshortened future/PTSD, epileptic seizures, remembered child abuse, remembered death of a lover

[Whitney McGruder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jorgensen's other books (the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series) take place in Victorian England. It was really refreshing to take the story to America. The South, specifically. It was wonderful watching Bennett's and Theo's worlds collide and how they figured out how to coincide their wants and existing traditions. The action and pacing as other characters came to challenge Theo's authority were also riveting. I think I read the book in a day or so because I wanted to resolve all the twists and turns.

I also always love Jorgensen's way of introducing LGBTQTIA+ characters into stifling societies. I'm not sure how historically accurate her trans character is but It's wonderful to see this story unfold. She does a good job of telling the stories we really don't see often. It's gratifying to see characters know who they are and find ways to be themselves in places where it's taboo to be your genuine self.

As you might guess, we've got great LGBTQTIA+ representation here. We see healthy and positive examples of consent, romance, and acceptance. If you're into shapeshifting characters, then you'll definitely get a lot more from the story. There is some depictions of violence, so keep that in mind, especially if you're sensitive to animal-against-animal violence.

[Virginia Rounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinship and Kindness is a lovely story about a fox shifter who approaches the gathering / convention of wolf shifters (who dominate shifter community in the US). Kissing happens, conflict happens.

I absolutely loved the premise that Europeans are heavily wolves (correlation with prevalence of werewolf stories), while Asians have lots of fox shifters (e.g. gumiho & kitsune stories). A+ on creating a cool premise.

Also: Trans romance, yay!! We get both Bennett’s and Theo’s perspective, which is nice. It can be confusing because it switches between whose head we’re in within a section or occasionally from paragraph to paragraph. But both have a clear personality, and there are no problems with mixing up who-knows-what at any given point.

The only weak points are slight ones; this is still an enjoyable read:
There’s a bit of Deus ex Machina, as a last-minute *something* happens to save the MC from a big risk. And a few of the side conflicts are smoothed out quite quickly.

All in all, if this genre is your thing, then this is a solid addition. I'll read more from Kara Jorgensen.

[Menoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a super sweet shifter book, with a sweet romance between the sweetest sweet people ever.
(Did you get the message: it’s super sweet and I loved it).
Theo is a cinnamon roll. I will burrito blanket him. Bennett was sweet AND fierce. Love that for him.
I need to fight 1v1 with Bennett’s uncle too. Like. Badly.
I loved how the union for shifter was brought and I kind of want to see more shifter! And since it’s set in the same world as the reanimator’s heart, I so want Oliver and Felippe crossover.
Anyway if you like shifter books, anxious mcs, representation and a stress baking werewolf : you should run.

[Jendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, low-angst romance between a trans man fox shifter and the world's coziest werewolf. The trans issues were handled sensitively and accurately. I would have liked more dramatic tension, and there were some proofreading errors (its/it's mistakes occurred too often), but I'll definitely look out for the next installment.

[Aelina Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Both characters were written wonderfully, I especially thought Theo's epilepsy was well written and it made me really happy to see that representation. I listened to this in audio and the narrator was superb, I couldn't stop listening and had to know what happened next. It is a cozy shifter romance with some angst, and lots of found family.

[Drew Osburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a regency romance vibe despite being set in Louisiana. It was a lot softer than a lot of shifter books I've read and I loved the characters relationships with their animal alters. While it was a bit too insta lovey for my taste I did enjoy the romance. My biggest complaint was the audiobook made it difficult to pick up on POV switches so that got confusing at times

[nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Representation!

This book feels so warm and it also had sex scenes that made sense to me as a trans person.